The likelihood of extreme weather causing damage to historic bridges, such as that seen on the Bridge of Dun in Scotland, could become more common, engineering specialists have told NCE.
A sinkhole opened up on the 18th Century Bridge of Dun due to high water levels along the South Esk River when Storm Babet hit Scotland at the weekend.
Built between 1785 and 1787 the Bridge of Dun is known as a masterpiece of masons art and crosses the low lying farmland around the South Esk river prior to it reaching the Montrose basin.
Speaking to NCE, earth scientist and University of Hull vice chancellor David Petley, said that high levels of water flow through the smaller arch in the bridge allowed water to break through the stone facing of the bridge, and was a possible cause of the erosion of fill underneath the road surface.
“The rainfall events that we are now seeing are extreme, subjecting infrastructure to conditions that are beyond their design,” he said. “We should expect to see more of this type of situation. It is manageable, but will require substantial investment in our infrastructure; in cases of historic structures of this type, it will be particularly challenging.”